Do they put prior names on your passport? Name change question!?

Question: Do you already have a passport? When my wife and I married, she sent her passport in and the only thing they did was print on the last page "Legal name change to (name) -- married (date)." So if you already have one, I seriously doubt the U.S. State Department is going to issue you a brand new one if the old one is still valid. However, if you don't have a passport, they'll issue you a new one with your new name.